Psa 37:12-26 | KingComments | STEP | So far everything is abstract, the contrast between the ungodly and the righteous is discussed in a doctrinal way. are practical, the contrast is now made tangible in everyday life. This section takes a closer look at the contrast described in . This deals with the actions of the wicked and God’s response to them. The first contrast is in . The wicked is continually devising vicious plans “against the righteous” ( ), which is the same as the humble one of and . As he plots to kill the righteous ( ), he gnashes with his teeth at him (cf. ). This indicates that inwardly he is very angry with him, he is full of hatred toward him. The Lord, Adonai, the sovereign Ruler, is totally unimpressed by what the wicked plots and does against the righteous one ( ). While the wicked gnashes with his teeth, He laughs at him, so ridiculous is what the wicked is doing (cf. ). After all, it is supreme folly to turn against Him and utter shortsightedness because the day of judgment is coming on his foolish schemes. The Lord sees “his day”, his end (cf. ), which is the day when the wicked will be judged, ahead and the righteous must continue to see it. The second contrast is in . The wicked begin the execution of their plans. They “have drawn the sword and bent their bow” ( ). This speaks of the power of the wicked: the sword to kill nearby and bow and arrow to kill at a distance. However, the power (arm) of the wicked will be broken ( ). Their intention is to “to cast down the afflicted and the needy” and “to slay those who are upright in conduct”. ‘Slay’ is a word often used for the slaughter of cattle. This is how the wicked see the righteous (cf. ). But God ensures that “their sword will enter their own heart” and that “their bows will be broken” ( ). Their own hearts will be affected because that is where all their wickedness comes from. The third contrast is in . In , “the little of the righteous” is compared to “the abundance of many wicked”. The outcome is also given directly: What the righteous has is “better” than what the wicked have. The reason is given in : “The arms of the wicked will be broken”, so that he has no power to use sword and bow against the righteous, nor to bring any more of his abundance with his hand to his mouth. In contrast, the righteous enjoys the support of God in the little that he has. He does not need to have a powerful arm, for his God helps him. Surely it cannot be a question of who is better off, can it? The fourth contrast is in . “The LORD knows the days of the blameless” because they live with Him ( ). They are upright, they desire to do His will. God watches their lives day by day with His loving care. He is interested in everything that happens in their lives every day and helps them. Their days have no end. The LORD sees the day (singular) of the wicked ( ), but of the righteous, the pious, the upright, He knows their days (plural). What they have been promised by the LORD in terms of inheritance “will be forever”. They will enjoy their inheritance fully and all days in the realm of peace. This also means that “they will not be ashamed in the time of evil” ( ). After all, the LORD knows them. Also “in the days of famine they will have abundance”. This does not mean that they will always have enough bread, but that they will experience His fellowship in their need. They are not dependent on external circumstances; even disasters cannot prevent the LORD from continuing to provide for them (cf. ). It is not primarily about material satisfaction, but spiritual satisfaction. Completely different it will be with the wicked ( ). They will perish. For them there is no realm of peace, but eternal judgment. They are called “the enemies of the LORD”, for that is what they are in their mind and attitude. What remains of them is smoke that vanishes. Just “like the glory of the pastures”, i.e. the flowers of the field. The wicked are compared to grass and the flowers of the field ( ; ). This speaks of perishability. The fifth contrast is in . The wicked never have enough. They borrow and keep borrowing, without paying back a cent ( ). Very different is the case with the righteous. He gives, and not only that, he gives with his heart, for he gives out of compassion to those in need. Here it is not important whether he is materially rich or poor. He gives because he is a righteous person. He desires to give because he has God’s nature, and God is a Giver (cf. ). They can be generous because they have been “blessed by Him” and will “inherit the land” ( ). This verse means that God will ultimately fulfill His promise of the land in accordance with His covenant. What will we worry about accumulating a lot of property now and keeping it for ourselves when we know that we will soon receive an entire inheritance? The wicked live only for themselves and pretend to own the earth. They do not realize that they are “cursed by Him” and “will be cut off”. This too is in accordance with the covenant: that the curse comes upon those who break the covenant.

‏ Psalms 37:12-26

The Wicked Opposite to the Righteous

So far everything is abstract, the contrast between the ungodly and the righteous is discussed in a doctrinal way. Psa 37:12-26 are practical, the contrast is now made tangible in everyday life.

This section takes a closer look at the contrast described in Psa 37:10-11. This deals with the actions of the wicked and God’s response to them. The first contrast is in Psa 37:12-13. The wicked is continually devising vicious plans “against the righteous” (Psa 37:12), which is the same as the humble one of Psa 37:11 and Psa 37:14. As he plots to kill the righteous (Psa 37:14), he gnashes with his teeth at him (cf. Psa 35:16). This indicates that inwardly he is very angry with him, he is full of hatred toward him.

The Lord, Adonai, the sovereign Ruler, is totally unimpressed by what the wicked plots and does against the righteous one (Psa 37:13). While the wicked gnashes with his teeth, He laughs at him, so ridiculous is what the wicked is doing (cf. Psa 2:1-4). After all, it is supreme folly to turn against Him and utter shortsightedness because the day of judgment is coming on his foolish schemes. The Lord sees “his day”, his end (cf. Psa 73:17b), which is the day when the wicked will be judged, ahead and the righteous must continue to see it.

The second contrast is in Psa 37:14-15. The wicked begin the execution of their plans. They “have drawn the sword and bent their bow” (Psa 37:14). This speaks of the power of the wicked: the sword to kill nearby and bow and arrow to kill at a distance. However, the power (arm) of the wicked will be broken (Psa 37:15 ; 17).

Their intention is to “to cast down the afflicted and the needy” and “to slay those who are upright in conduct”. ‘Slay’ is a word often used for the slaughter of cattle. This is how the wicked see the righteous (cf. Psa 44:22). But God ensures that “their sword will enter their own heart” and that “their bows will be broken” (Psa 37:15). Their own hearts will be affected because that is where all their wickedness comes from.

The third contrast is in Psa 37:16-17. In Psa 37:16, “the little of the righteous” is compared to “the abundance of many wicked”. The outcome is also given directly: What the righteous has is “better” than what the wicked have. The reason is given in Psa 37:17: “The arms of the wicked will be broken”, so that he has no power to use sword and bow against the righteous, nor to bring any more of his abundance with his hand to his mouth. In contrast, the righteous enjoys the support of God in the little that he has. He does not need to have a powerful arm, for his God helps him. Surely it cannot be a question of who is better off, can it?

The fourth contrast is in Psa 37:18-20. “The LORD knows the days of the blameless” because they live with Him (Psa 37:18). They are upright, they desire to do His will. God watches their lives day by day with His loving care. He is interested in everything that happens in their lives every day and helps them.

Their days have no end. The LORD sees the day (singular) of the wicked (Psa 37:13), but of the righteous, the pious, the upright, He knows their days (plural). What they have been promised by the LORD in terms of inheritance “will be forever”. They will enjoy their inheritance fully and all days in the realm of peace.

This also means that “they will not be ashamed in the time of evil” (Psa 37:19). After all, the LORD knows them. Also “in the days of famine they will have abundance”. This does not mean that they will always have enough bread, but that they will experience His fellowship in their need. They are not dependent on external circumstances; even disasters cannot prevent the LORD from continuing to provide for them (cf. Psa 1:3). It is not primarily about material satisfaction, but spiritual satisfaction.

Completely different it will be with the wicked (Psa 37:20). They will perish. For them there is no realm of peace, but eternal judgment. They are called “the enemies of the LORD”, for that is what they are in their mind and attitude. What remains of them is smoke that vanishes. Just “like the glory of the pastures”, i.e. the flowers of the field. The wicked are compared to grass and the flowers of the field (Psa 37:2; Isa 40:6). This speaks of perishability.

The fifth contrast is in Psa 37:21-22. The wicked never have enough. They borrow and keep borrowing, without paying back a cent (Psa 37:21). Very different is the case with the righteous. He gives, and not only that, he gives with his heart, for he gives out of compassion to those in need. Here it is not important whether he is materially rich or poor. He gives because he is a righteous person. He desires to give because he has God’s nature, and God is a Giver (cf. 2Cor 9:7 ; 15).

They can be generous because they have been “blessed by Him” and will “inherit the land” (Psa 37:22). This verse means that God will ultimately fulfill His promise of the land in accordance with His covenant. What will we worry about accumulating a lot of property now and keeping it for ourselves when we know that we will soon receive an entire inheritance? The wicked live only for themselves and pretend to own the earth. They do not realize that they are “cursed by Him” and “will be cut off”. This too is in accordance with the covenant: that the curse comes upon those who break the covenant.

Not Forsaken

It is a great blessing to know that “the steps of a man”, that is of the righteous man, are “are established by the LORD” (Psa 37:23). God sees to it that the righteous is led by Him in circumstances in which the way is no longer visible. In the way of that righteous, He finds His joy. God has found this joy perfectly in the way the Lord Jesus went on earth. He has let Himself be guided by His God in everything. Therefore we can be called upon to follow in His steps (1Pet 2:21).

If we realize to some extent that the world is full of traps and pitfalls, the knowledge that God is establishing our steps will fill us with great thankfulness. We are then in His way. We go that way when we let ourselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Then, like Moses, we will ask God: “Let me know Your ways” (Exo 33:13). Moses does not ask for a way, but Your ways, God’s ways.

Even though the righteous may fall (Psa 37:24), he will not be hurled headlong, for the LORD is the One Who holds his hand (cf. Pro 20:24 ; Pro 24:16a; Deu 33:27). When a person goes God’s way, he may stumble in it, or commit a sin. But he will not remain laying down, for the LORD will restore him. He will not be cast away, for he may count on the support of God.

David is speaking from experience (Psa 37:25). He is “old” now, but has not forgotten that he has also “been young”. Throughout his life, he has “not seen the righteous forsaken”. It does not mean that a believer has no problems. God has not promised us an easy journey, but He has promised us a safe arrival. This is a great encouragement for a believer to persevere. All the while David is being pursued by Saul, God has always provided him and his men with what they need. The same is true for their children.

To experience God’s provision is to experience His mercies. Those who realize this will themselves begin to act that way toward others (Psa 37:26). Whoever is blessed and gives God the credit for that, will distribute his blessing to others. He doesn’t do that now and then, but “all day long”. He “is gracious and lends” and continues to do so all the time. This will be continued by “his descendants”. The blessing that the righteous receives goes from generation to generation. His children have seen how he has lived in fellowship with God. They follow him in this and in turn are also “a blessing”. They are blessed and a blessing to others.

There is also another side to this: there must be a departing from evil (Psa 37:27). Evil in this context consists of not keeping the covenant of God, thereby forfeiting the promised blessing. To depart from evil must be followed by doing “good”. This includes keeping God’s covenant with Abraham. Doing good means doing what God expects. For the faithful remnant, the consequence is that they will abide forever, which means they will inhabit the earth forever, which is the fulfillment of the land promise God made to Abraham. For us it means that we will receive the inheritance that has been reserved for us in heaven.

Abiding forever is, as it were, a reward from the LORD. He gives it, because He “loves justice” (Psa 37:28). By virtue of right He gives it to them. At the same time, He abides with His godly ones. This expression makes it clear that they are objects of His favor, of His grace. They receive the blessing, not because they are better than the wicked, but because He has spared them according to the election of His grace.

Again, we find the Hebrew chasidim, godly ones, namely those who are faithful to the covenant with the LORD. These are the ones who will receive the blessings of the LORD, from generation to generation. And since the LORD also is faithful to His covenant, He can never forsake His godly ones. In accordance with the same covenant, the wicked, those who violate the covenant, will be cut off.

Being a godly one of the LORD entails even more blessing: “They are preserved forever.” He also holds His protective hand over them and preserves them so that they will be able to enjoy what He has promised them. What happens to “the descendants of the wicked” is in sharp contrast to this: they “will be cut off”. Anyone who sees this contrast well will not envy or get excited about the temporary prosperity of the wicked.